Sunday, August 21, 2011

Last night I attempted to make my very first chowder. We had lobster meat from Land and Sea that was just begging to be paired with white wine, potatoes, corn, and a creamy, thick broth. My only experience with chowder as a kid was heating my father's can of Campbell's condensed clam chowder-- and boy, did it stink!

That being said, the chowder was a disaster. Okay, maybe I'm being overly critical, but it was a far cry from the thick, steamy masterpiece I was envisioning in my head. My fiance was a doll and ate two bowls in an effort to convince me it was a good first try. I was unconvinced.

The star of the night really ended up being the peach-blueberry crisp I threw together while the chowder was simmering. It uses fresh, in-season peaches and blueberries and several items you probably already have in your pantry. Lovely on its own but definitely a 10 when you pair it with vanilla ice cream.

Peach-Blueberry Crisp

Serves 4 (or 2 dessert-hungry people)

2 firm peaches

1 1/2c fresh blueberries

2 tsp candied ginger, grated*

2/3c rolled oats

2/3c white flour

1/4c brown sugar

1 tsp cinnamon

1/4c vegetable oil

1/2c chopped nuts (optional)

(*Candied ginger can be substituted for fresh or dried ginger mixed with a little white sugar)

Preheat oven to 400 degrees.

Slice peaches down the seam and twist. Remove the pit and any pit pieces. Slice peach into 8 slices, or dice if you want a more homogenized crisp.

Mix the blueberries, peaches, and grated candied ginger in a bowl. Coat the bottom of a shallow baking dish with oil or butter spray and arrange into even layers.

In another bowl, mix together the oats, flour, brown sugar, and cinnamon. Add oil and stir to coat. Gently fold in the nuts.

Spread the mixture evenly on top of the fruits and bake at 350 for 15 minutes or until the top is dry and golden brown.

Serve warm with ice cream.

Simple, delicious, done!

What's your favorite dessert?

XOXO, Shauna aka the college gastronome

Quick and Dirty with TCG

1) What the heck is candied ginger?!

Candied ginger is slices of ginger that have been dried and rolled in sugar. The texture is almost like marzipan and it is great to use in many different desserts and drinks. You can find candied ginger in the international foods aisle of your megamart, usually with the Asian spices/noodles. A small box will run you $1.50 for about 1 ounce.

Candied ginger is also great to eat on it's own. Careful though, it's spicy! I like to suck on it sometimes; it aids in easing an upset stomach.

2) The grocery store was out of peaches, or it's the off season. What should I do?

This recipe is great with any and all types of fruit. You could substitute plums for the peaches, or raspberries for the blueberries. If you're dead-set on recreating this dessert in it's entirety, simply use frozen peaches and blueberries. Frozen fruits are picked at their peak of ripeness, then quick frozen to maintain their texture. If you do substitute fresh for frozen, be sure to thaw them out first. You can do this by either running the frozen goodies under warm water, or arrange on a plate at room temperature for 1 hour.

Tuesday, August 16, 2011

My fiance is a bit of a picky eater. Oh, I've watched him eat escargot and steak tartar, but put most fruits or veggies in front of him and watch his mouth bolt itself shut!

That being said, my local chain grocery store had the most incredible fuzzy peaches on sale this week. Firm, sweet and ready to eat, I decided to grill them in the hopes of tricking my beloved into putting something healthy in his mouth. Paired with vanilla ice cream or pound cake (we had both), this amazingly simple dessert is the perfect end to any long summer day.

Simply Grilled Peaches

(Serves 2 or 4 depending on serving size)

2 firm-to-touch peaches

1 tsp vegetable oil

1 tablespoon brown sugar

Vanilla ice cream, pound cake, or whipped cream

Preheat a grill, grill-pan, or griddle to 350 or medium.

Carefully halve each peach along the seam and remove any pits inside.

Brush lightly with the oil and lay cut-side down on the hot grill.

Cook for 5 minutes or until the flesh is charred.

Tent the pan with aluminum foil and cook for an additional 2-3 minutes, or until the outside of the peach is warm and soft.

Remove peaches from the grill and lightly sprinkle with brown sugar.

Allow brown sugar to melt into the peaches while you plate the ice cream or other accompaniments.

About Me

Welcome! Shauna E's Easy Eats is a blog dedicated to the home cook who needs a little guidance.
Join me weekly for techniques and tips for simple home cooking, as well as ridiculously easy recipes you can take all the credit for!
Every blog post is followed by a Quick and Dirty Q & A section to dissect any unusual ingredients or answer any questions the reader may have. Still confused? Shoot me a comment and we'll get to the bottom of it together!
Simple, Delicious, Done!